Dr. to Patient; I'm sorry I amputated the wrong, leg, finger, arm, hand, breast, etc..... or I just accidently killed your loved one on the OR table.

Yeah, that apology makes me feel alot better, and I'm glad that makes the DR. feel better.

Filing a lawsuit is really the patients only recourse. But given the circumstances the majority of people would have rather the mistake have not been made in the first place.

I know to Err is human. We all live with this everyday. But if I run a redlight and injure someone, I'm held accountable. If I'm a contractor working on your house and my error causes a fire, I'm accountable. Thats why we have insurance, if we dont we get sued.

If my quality of life is dimishined because you made mistake, what I'm supposed to do?

There will always be those for whom everything is money.

And there will always be those who are generous with their sanctimony.

are you going to be happy with a couple of million and no arm? I wouldn't be, I'd rather have the arm. The point being you should look for happiness, not lawsuits. After you "win", you'll be no less bitter than you were before.

Fair point, Vegemighty

Happiness will not grow you a new arm. I'm not advocating lawsuits, but whats your other options? You lose an arm, now what? "Sorry that happened, please don't sue me." If a mistake was made there should be compensation. Right now the only way to get it is to sue.

Actually, I don't think that the author addressed the affect of apologies on whether or not a lawsuit was necessary or indicated.

Negligence is negligence. If someone breaches a duty they owe to you and it results in damages, then they can be held liable under tort law.

I am not sure what this has to do with an apology where there are no damages. Or where the person doesn't want to sue...